Ultra Low Viscosity Polymeric Additives

In 2008, DSM Elastomers installed a state of the art reactive extrusion (REX) line in Triunfo, Brazil. The technology provides a route to manufacture ultra low viscosity EPM and EPDM. In this paper, Keltan^® 1200A (K1200A), an ultra low viscosity ethylene – propylene copolymer will be introduced. It is a material that takes an intermediate position between the lowest viscosity solid reactor grades and liquid polymeric plasticizers.  As such, it can resolve processability issues that persist when using reactor grades while avoiding issues of compatibility or too large a deterioration in properties when using liquid polymers.  The advantages of K1200A as a solid additive and polymeric plasticizer in oil free and low oil compounds will be discussed.  Improvement in compound processability without significant sacrifice of mechanical properties in peroxide and sulfur cure systems will be demonstrated in various high demand applications.